Franklin County Courthouses

If you or someone you know has been arrested, or is being investigated for a crime anywhere in Franklin County - Greenfield, Montague, Northfield, or Sunderland - most criminal matters will be heard in either the Greenfield District Court or the Orange District Court.  Felonies, and more serious crimes brought before the Grand Jury, are handled in the Franklin Superior Court on Main Street in Greenfield.  To learn more about each of the courthouses in Franklin County, go here.

The first thing a criminal defendant needs to do is to find a Franklin County criminal lawyer who knows when, where, and how to strike when it comes to obtaining the best result.  The attorneys at The Massachusetts Criminal Defense Group are known throughout northwestern Massachusetts to be an aggressive group of attorneys whose goal is to get you off, to keep your record clean, and to prevent you from losing your freedom. 

District Attorney Elizabeth D. Scheibel, an elected official, is the chief prosecutor for all crimes in Franklin County.  Her office determines whether or not to move forward with cases based on the resources available to pursue the matter, the level of priority the case has to the office, and how closely related the charges are to the goals of the voters. 

Questions?  Call Us Now!

Our lawyers are the only protection standing between you, the police, the District Attorney, and the courts.  We defend anyone accused of any wrongdoing, regardless of the charge.  Call us at (800) 461-6900 to discuss your matter - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

A Word of Advice From Our Attorneys…

The most important advice our attorneys give clients is, following an arrest, invoke your Constitutional Rights.  Remain silent.  Don't say anything.  The police will try to get you to talk and make incriminating statements.  Don't do it!  Anything you say can - and will - be used against you in a court of law.  By talking you may incriminate yourself directly.  Or, you may make a statement which you don't believe is incriminating, but which lends itself to negative interpretations. Talk to a lawyer first!

Even if you've been charged with a crime and face jail time, while it's understandable that you are nervous, talking to others about your charges or your case will almost always come back to haunt you.  Don't do it.  As an example, talking to other inmates at the jail causes problems because there are many jailhouse snitches.  Lots of people lose their trials based on testimony that is made up by the snitches at the jail. Feel free to talk about anything other than your charges or your case.  Discuss your case only with your criminal defense team.

Should I Take a Deal?

As both the Greenfield District Court and Orange District Courts become ever more crowded, Judges and prosecutors feel increased pressure to move cases quickly through the system.  Cases can take months, while plea bargains (which provide the D.A.'s office and the defendant some control over the end-result) can often be arranged in minutes.  Learn more at our Plea Bargaining Information Center.

Given that Franklin County is especially tough on criminal defendants, the benefits of plea bargaining include receiving a lighter sentence for a less severe charge than might result from taking the case to trial and losing, getting out of jail altogether, probation in lieu of a longer sentence, and - if you're represented by an attorney -saving on legal fees.

When you meet with Acting Chief Probation Officer Mary O'Connell in the Greenfield District Court, or Alan J. Becklo in the Orange District Court, it is imperative that you make a favorable impression.  If you don't, he or she can very easily make your probation sentence unusually uncomfortable.  If they discover that you have failed to meet any condition of your probation, you can be thrown in jail - either in state prison or at the Franklin County House of Corrections in Greenfield - off Route 2A East - at 160 Elm Street.  

If you can't afford to take what the District Attorney offers you, you'll need the best defense lawyer you can find to protect your interests in court.  

Contact the experienced and aggressive criminal attorneys at The Massachusetts Criminal Defense Group by calling (800) 461-6900 or by contacting us for a free case evaluation.